Redcap375

Same thing happened to us yesterday! Bravo lost and went on our flick. Good point, forgot to bring this up too. @MrConway ??

Yesterday was the first night of Clans for us (1st team) and ending with mixed results, got to play offs but didn't go up this time. Should do tonight tho. I think we are still undecided on the ship selection, manly 1 or 2 DDs and a few tweaks here and their. Changes to the maps have thrown a few DD's players off and need to look at our positioning better. Positioning of ships is paramount but so is being flexible. I think the Z52 is a fantastic DD in clans but only one player has it (2nd team) at the moment so it's knowing what ships to use, but not actually having them is a pain. Map rotation is awful, playing warrior's path 3 times in a row then hotspot twice, break then hotspot again.

Enjoyed the Roon. PM first Guns are life and having your only front one knocked out isn't fun. Plus how many times have your torps been blown up just as you are doing a torp run, crap when that happens? PT is good but the Roon is a kinda ship that keeps on firing whilst kiting or stay at range half the game until you close in. AR Such a good 2 pointer it's not even funny and great with German Ships that tank. DE German AP are fussy fellows. When perfect broadside they pack a punch but when the enemy is slightly angled they drop or down right bounce. Load salt and pepper and burn it to death, 16% fire chance (with flag) is not to be sniffed at. AFT Extend that lovely AA it has. The Roon is one big target for AP bombs and limiting that effect is paramount. 2 sets of AP bombs can outright kill you. AFT with DefAA is a pain in the grass for CV players. Without both, you are a sitting duck to a good CV captain (you are the slowest cruiser in tier 9). Vigilance Because you are running DefAA then Vigilance is a solid choice instead of Hyrdo. The Roon is a funny bugger that likes to kite (rear guns) but also loves a scrap (Trutleback armour and torps). So anything to help avoid torps early always helps. CE CE for most cruisers is a good idea. Go silent when healing and waiting for him to put out his fire. SI If you don't use premium consumables or flags. I did, so I gave this a miss. But still a good choice, you can never have too many heals for a heavy cruiser. If not then I would pick PT and BoS to make you that much wiser and tougher. So....What you now have is a solid all-rounder that can down planes, repair faster, burn and sink less, avoid torps more and burn things down to the ground. Faster when AR kicks in. Like i said, i really enjoyed the Roon but it had to give way for the Buffalo. German Cruisers are the best all rounders IMHO, so spec them like it I say. IMHO.

Not a DD player and don't have a YoYang so take this with a massive pince of salt, but I do have the KIDD. And i love it. Twice i've came across a YoYang and both times i've bashed it's brains out, one trying to use his hydro to get the upper hand, didn't work quite as he planed. It's a blunt instrument, the YoYang seems to be a surgeons knife. All my DD player Clan mates love the YoYang and it's strong in ranked. So I think an out and out DD player will do better in the YoYang alot more. KIDD is more user friendly, if i can get good results out of it anyone can.

Then that is your conclusion and an adult one. You know the pit falls of the choices. One persons medicine is another persons poison. That DD player wont be your best friend if you have IFHE but as i'm a CV player main, i will thank you with my AP bombs when you DO see a CV. Because and i'm sure you already know this, the Bismarck is the TOP of any US CV hit list. I think the majority of players in here wouldn't really say there is just one build. As playing with Div's can change your captain skills as well as Clan Battles. My Hindy is completely different when spec for random than Clans. My GK is not an optimal build, but it's fun for me and that's what counts. Training battles are great for "figger it out yourself". Did it yesterday with the Massachusetts and found it very interesting. Anyway, gl hf

5 km!!! Lol. Yeah that might be the problem mate. Try it at 9-11 km next time, will see better results. But for a laugh, try it against a DD with and without IFHE if you have time.

I know you can spec your captain as you want, but just my 2 pence. To me, that extra 4 points can be the difference between being outright sunk by a CV (more so with god fobid AP bombs) or not. Or being able to get close to the target before unleashing hell (concelamemt). Even a shout for fire prevention so you don't burn to death as much with all these HE spammers around, more than they have even been. But I do like a good brawl and if you really hate being sunk by DD's then IFHE is a good shout all in all. Worth it or not totally up to the captain.

But they do mate. They pen DD's, something of which the Bismarck hates as it has a crap torp belt compared to most. As for the BB superstructure the secondary on the German ships tend to be flater than the Amercian ones. Meaning the close you get, the less effective it is as the lazy sods cant reach the deck and bounce off the sides (which it cant pen). I wouldn't even think about the 105 mm with IFHE being a weapon again BB's. It needs to hit the superstructure exactly and they arent accurate in the first place, and that's not including a moving target and such. Cruisers are even harder. It's a DD killing machine that the IFHE brings. Try it against a LoYang in training with and without IFHE and see the true power of the force!

Glad that is cleared up chaps Being a BB brawler kinda guy i have done many training room experiments. Yes i'm that kinda guy. Stats can go to hell, i wanna see it for myself. Each German secondary build with or without IFHE gives you different results, simple as that. It then up to the captain to figger out if 4 points are worth it? This all depends on the kinda targets you wanna blow up. If you get really P***** off with DD's then IFHE on the Bismarck is a good call as you can now pen them for direct damage. Also means you can pen most BBs with 150 mm. But.....Your fire chance goes down and that is a big factor when shooting all those 105 mm at them. So it's up to the captain. Did the Massachusetts IFHE training room yesterday. Mixed results and all depends on the targets you wanna aim for. But it melts cruisers like you wouldn't believe. Which is great as it leaves you big hitting guns for the Big boys.

Cruisers are using the tool they are given so no one can blame any Spammer ship for that. I have the Atlanta and even though its a good ship, I personally find it boring to play with. But that's just my opinion, not everyone's. Some people might like that kinda play but i simply don't. Horses for courses. But.. Are they mistakes? really... This doesn't sit right with me. I see what your saying from your point of view, but think of it from the other captains perspective . 1) A tirp trying to do what he is designed to do and getting burned alive against an enemy he cant see. The next time he plays in it he will camp with the rest of his team at the back...adding to the camping meta and a useless tirp 9/10. 2) A DD trying to get a cap (one of his main goals in life) or spotting for the good of the team with so much radar around and a 1, 2 or even 3 Mino/Woc/Cleveland behind a island with fast firing guns and getting wacked for his troubles. Adding to the high tier camping meta. 3) And then 2 BBs trying to get around (probably to try and turf you and the rest out) and burning to death for their troubles. And i bet the focus fire they received from your team was tremendous. Are they gonna wanna push next time with Ships like that against them? nope, adding to the high tier camping HE spamming meta. Turfing ships like this out of cover requires teamwork. Single ships that try get focued by the camping defending fire in shot to pieces. Teamwork in ransoms is very hard to find. WG is rewarding passive play and punishing aggressive play at the moment. These kinda ship thrive off passive play and that's just how it is at the moment. Rightly or wrongly. IMHO.

This ^^ The meta is passive and German BBs are suffering because of it due to its inaccuracy at range. More camping ships like the Montana, Conq and Yam just do it a lot better. Sniping Bis and Tirps are dead weight and how many player have we seen trying to snipe in these things? They are also the last ones to survive with full HP. Makes you wanna pull your hair out does it Put it this way, I have docked my Kurfurst and i loved that ship. It's the Radar, HE spamming behind a hill and crazy AA meta at the moment All of which creates static game play which I personally find boring. But i just keep calm and carry on. Those BBs that do try to have a go get singled out and burn to death. Also not playing high tier CV's for a while and that''s my fav class. But i'm not getting stressed due to the sheer amount of AA at the moment, it's not worth it.

1) If that said BB HAS a spotting plane 2) That the spotting planes doesn't get shot down by 8.4 km AA 3) Hasn't got flat arcs 4) Is so far back in able to do this. Further adding to the high tier camping meta. 5) First sniff of detection, he pops his head back into the island nice and snug. just saying It's a counter tactics for sure, but you gotta admit that the stars need to be aligned abit. Normally you have to kill everything round it then flank around within something that isn't a poor DD. Heavy cruisers and BB are perfect for this but in this high tier meta, no one pushes unless their are 3-4 ships left. People don't like to be HE spammed and kited to death when they try to push. Rightly or wrongly, It basically creates static game play...Which i think many of us find boring.

Going into a map in clans which we have never had/seen before and then sailed around like headless chickens with new clan members. Then end up getting 7 - 0 and feeling very embarrassed. Even had a forum member on the enemy team to watch it all unfold. Maybe we should have waited for the A team members to turn up last night, but good for them to get a game. Pride dictated that we won the other 3 matches tho

Always wanted it so got it. I play BBs to chill and unwind in and love brawlers after playing my CV's and cruisers. I love it and that's from someone who also has the Bama and love that too (got free from container many moons ago). Although I hated the NC? I know, go figger If you are unsure then just fire away with questions chaps, few of us have them and can give their opinions on it. It's not a cheap ship ££££ and with so many around, it's not a easy choice now-a-days. In a nutshell.....It's balanced and such a fun ship to play. It really is, might not be competitive, but it's fun in randoms. But you need a 18-19 Point captain right from the start and is only really usable on this ship. I can foresee quite a few of these knocking around when anyone can buy it.

Loved this ship and finished with a 62% WR. What I liked is the different builds you could give it. AA spec, Secondary or pure tank. I enjoyed its brawling potential and the torps that you could just place on the enemy ships deck, by hand, was fantastic. 42 planes kills is the most i managed to get in it. For a German BB that is fantastic AA. But alas, I sold it and havnt looked at buying it back. Reason? Because I simply enjoy the Lyon, Sharn, Kaga, Sapian, Belfast ect. more and can do more with them. Owing to the number of guns they have and the lack of the ones on the Gne. Plus it's great vs not so good players who are willing to wait and take what's coming towards them. But against a good player, it's an easy to counter vs another BB. The Lyon will burn it to death. The KG5 with burn it to death (even more), The Sharn will burn it to death or torp it, And both the Nag and Col with heavier shells, will AP you to death at range right through your non turtleback deck armour. All whilst your trying to chase a ship with only 4 indiscriminate guns to your front. So you don't wanna brawl and lob shells at eachother? Good luck....You will be out out gunned and either completely out HE spammed to death or sunk by heavier more accurate AP shells on the Naga and Col. But in the randomness of randoms the Gne is alright and when used correctly is a monster. Pick the moment to charge and don't look back. If you time it right, before you know it you have 2 sinking ships behind you with torp and secondary holes. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but their are better BB choices at tier 7 IMHO. And it's not a cruiser killer at all. It relies on getting close and tier 7 is still alright to do this in, so it's still a good ship.

Nice Place called Stieghorst in Bielefeld. You? I'll be watching it along with 28 other Brits crammed in a garden with a TV strapped to the wall, BBQ and plenty of Bitburger. Wine for the ladies

I fear for his safety I'm sleeping with one eye open at the moment. There are lynch mobs all over the German streets. Will still be wearing my England shirt tonight

Git

Chaps I'm starting to become more and more concerned regarding the MM at the moment. I know some of you will be rolling your eyes right now, but i have seen this become more of a problem recently. I wanted your thoughts. 1) Landslides are occurring alot more than they have ever been. 2) More and more random MM matches are tilted one way or the other. You are either in a team that gets smacked in the face within a few minuets or are the ones doing the smacking. Which brings me onto point 2. The MM line up is starting to become comical. On one team you have a mix bag of solo, divs, clans, winrates ect...And on the other you have 2 x 3 Typhoon/hurricane divs with 2 solo high winrates thrown into the mix. Last night we (div m8 and myself) came up against 2 x 3 purple clan 60+ WR players. Believe it or not, it was a landslide I could have had the best game of my life (In the Alabama) it wouldn't have mattered a jot. It's like being ganged up on by a bunch of champion boxers then turning around to see who your mates are for support....Realise who they are, then sigh and except your fate as you get punched to death. It's all great if your on "that team" but it's still not fair for the enemy. Clan Mate " Easy win wasn't it Red?" I said "Yeah, I would expect it to be with those in our team (including us) poor gits" IMHO WG need to sort this out or at least starting looking at it before it gets worse. Bring the MM captain skills alot closer. Not to make it perfect, but a good split between good Divs and solo players. There is enough players who play this game to make this sort of thing happen, surly? lot of our new players are noticing this and I keep on telling them "it never used to be like this" . Is this here to stay now? I don't think it's healthy for the game. So...Tick sheet: Do you think there is a problem? Can they change the MM to fix this? Will they? Interested to hear your thoughts. I really have noticed this more and more lads/lassies

In Bielefeld myself

Thanks for the quick response mate. So that's about 1500 people (from 15K say ) in each tier. But like you said there are less players that play on tier 10 than their are on 7 for instance. But then include the +-2MM to buff the tier 10 games and the like (tier 8 -9 meat shields). Still looking at alot of players at one time. I mean you might be right as I am not a game designer and don't know what numbers are required in order for shorter MM, but to a simpleton like me, 4000 ish to cover tier 8-10 is quite alot. Surly they can sort the balance out, even by going off the WR (a quick example) within 4-5% of each other. Not like 0.1% to eachother as that WOULD take far too long. Something to make the teams a bit more balanced.

Ok...So you put it down to the time it would take to balance the teams out between games? Hummm I have a genuine question (to anyone). On average, how many people are on the EU server at any one time?

@T0byJug be interesting if Germany Lose today. Always great being a Brit in Germany

Does anyone else remember the days without all these gimmicks? I half expect to see jet engine planes chasing down my Zeros or a tomahawk missile to go straight through the captains cabin aboard the Alabama in half a year

Which I agree, for a good DD player like yourself. But all the average DD players are getting slotted within the first minute. If your WR has taken a hit with all your knowledge then the average play will be rage quitting. All ready seen it yesterday with A YY getting hit then refusing to play by sailing to the A1 square and flaming thought out the whole match. Muppet, reported by everyone. As a non DD player i'm really not fused but it's becoming harder and harder for DD's to operate. I do have a heart for them you know. Lets have a look: Tier 9 - 10 1st game - 3 radars 2nd game - 4 radars 3rd game - 5 radars 4th game - 5 radars 5th game - 4 radars Last 5 games i had. I've seen 6 in the last week. Then include the surge in Moskva players (buff), Des and buffalo for the missions and the introduction of the US CL. DD's and CV are going to have it alot harder than it already is. BB's are the real winners here. Already told my clan that i'm not sending my high tiers CV out without a AA escort. IMHO I think the amount of Cleveland's will stay tho, decent all round ship. Another AA ship to slap into high tier games. But your right, it might die down (hopefully) but it will get worse because of the above before it gets better. Both AA and radar.